Digging machine



Dec. 23, 1952 K. w. WALTERs DIGGING MACHINE 5 Shgts-Sheet l Filed Nov. 9, 194% r M n e w I Dec. 23, 1952 K. w. wALTERs 2,622,351

DIGGING MACHINE Q o l @s r i l F F l n E 0 Us N' 5J l Q Y. 0` Inventar g2 A d King W.. Walters By una Dec. 23, 1952 K, w, WALTERS 2,622,351

DIGGINGl MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 194e 5 sheets-sheet s Inventor King W. Walters a K. W. WALTERS Dec. 23, 1952 DIGGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F1ed`NOV 9 1949 Inventar King W. Walters dalw.

Attomgfs Dec. 23, 1952 K, W WALTERS 2,622,351

DIGGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 9, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 93 gi Fig. /3

86 00 46 #S TTT; 3/ /0 206 202 illlllnmllllllll|||l||I||||||||||||||||||||||||| Inventor King W. Walters df/W 75mm Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICEv 12 Claims. l

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in digging machines and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a digging machine so constructed as to permit the same to work in small narrow cuts and ditches and around side hills where space is insuicient to accommodate shovels that must hoist and rotate for discharging material.

Another very important object of the present invention is to provide a digging machine including a rotary scoop or bucket that is composed of four pieces that are welded together and which is quickly and readily removable and replaceable without effecting appreciable cost.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a digging machine including a bucket support having a bucket journaled thereon and a delivery chute for material dug by the bucket, together with a pair of slidably connected conveyors composed of two slidably connected frameworks, one of which is connected to the support so that one of the frameworks will be disposed beneath the chute at all times regardless of the position of the support.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digging machine including a scoop and an elevator disposed beneath the machine for receiving material dug by the scoop to conduct the material'to a discharge point at the rear of the machine or to trucks disposed adjacent the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shovel or truck loader including an operators platform on which the control and operating means for all parts of the loader are located, whereby a single operator may conveniently control the operation of the loader.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a digging machine so constructed as to reduce to a minimum the time required for digging material and for loading material into trucks.

A still further aim ofthe present invention is to provide a digging machine that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, eiiicient and durable in operation, relatively inexpensive to produce, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention;

' Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1 and with parts of the cab broken away;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side View of Figure 1 to show the means for rotating the bucket or scoop;

Figure 4 is a front elevational View taken substantially in the direction oi arrow numbered 4 in Figure 3;

Figure `5 is a perspective view of the bucket used in the present invention with the digging elements removed therefrom;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 6 6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is an enlarged vertical sectionall view taken substantially on the plane of section line 1-1 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 9-9 of Figure 8; A

Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line lill0 of Figure 1;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line H-l| of Figure l;

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line IZ-I 2 of Figure 2;

Figure 13 is a schematic plan view showing the delivery conveyor spaced parallel to the boom;

Figure 14 is a schematic view showing the position of thedelivery conveyor as the platform and the boom are swung in one direction; and

Figure 15 is a schematic View showing the position of the delivery conveyor as the platform and the boom are swung in a direction opposite from that shown in Figure 14.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,

V wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral I0 represents a tractor generally, including sprocket wheels I2 and I4, endless tracks or chains I6 that are trained about the sprocket wheels l2 and I4, upper and lower groups of track guiding and tensioning rollers I8 and 25J, and a frame 22 supporting a circular base plate 24 having a circumferentially toothed edge 26.

A platform 28 is supported for rotation on the frame 22 and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers or anti-friction members 30 that track upon the base plate 24. A suitable pivot pin 3| connects the platform 28 centrally to the base plate 24. A cab or housing 32 is mounted on the platform 28 and is composed of a motor compartment or casing 34. The motor encased within the casing 34 is of any suitable type, such as diesel, gasoline or electric, and is operatively connected to a vertically disposed driven shaft 36 having a gear 38 fixed thereon for er1- gaging Vthe toothed edge 25 of the base plate 24 so that as the shaft 35 is rotated, the platform 28 will also rotate. It is preferred that the motor within the casing 34 be composed of a vertically disposed stack 40.

A pair of horizontally disposed coaxial shaftsY 42 and 43 are mounted for rotation in" suitable bearings on the forward end portion of the plat'- form 28 and the shaft 42 pivotally supports the inner bifurcated end 44 of a boom 4S. A bracket 48 is mounted on the outer end of the boom 45 androtatably supports a vshaft 59 on ltheends of which there is secured a pair of pulleys 52.

A frame member 54 rises fromthe vplatform 28 and supports a shaft 56 on which there isimount'- ed a pair of pulleys 58. A pair of 'cables'.' lare trainedv about the pulleys 52 and. One end of each of the cables is ixed to a part of the tractor ory to the frame 54', whereasthe other ends oi the cablesY are vsecured to a suitable cable druml operated by the power plant of thevehicle so that the boom 48 may be raised or lowered.A

The outer end ofthe yboom lissupportsla horizontal shaft or pivot 62 on which' is received the upper oiset and-'reduced ends 640i apair of bucket supports or side members 56.

A bearing E8 is mounted on the'boom lgintermediate the endsof the boom 46, and rotatably supports a-sh'aftl.. A pair of yok'esf 12 .arerjournaled on the shaft 'l0 and slidablyreceive a pair of dipper members or arms T4 having toothed lower edges l|61 Gears ll-'are iixed on the shaft H3 vandYengage-the toothed lower edges 16..' The offset end portions 'i8 of the arms 'I4 are pivoted, as at 80,'toears 82 projecting laterally from the side members 68'.- The shaft 10 alsosupports a central sprocket 84 about whichthere istrained a sprocket chain 8@ `(seeligure 1I).

The lshaft 43 supports aA sprocket 8E about which the chain 8S is trained.`` Tlie shaft 43 also carries a sprocket Sil that is connected tov a shaft A driven'by the power plant of the tractorl so that as the shafts 43 and 'lil rotate, the Varms 'i4 will move within the yokes 'i2 for adjusting the side members E relative to the boom 46.' The shaft 42 Vsupports a pair of sprockets 92' and 94,-the .latn ter being connected to a shaft driven by the power plant of the tractor' by a sprocket chain 93 and the former sprocket (S21) receives a sprocket cl'iain'fi` that is trained over a gear 88 fixed on the shaft 52.

A bucket or scoop |||i `is journaled for rotation on the-side members 66 and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially disposed digging members; Each of the digging members is composed of a fiat side wall H32, an inwardly curved side wall |94 and an inwardly curved connecting wall |66- joining the sidewalls |62 and |44- n The connecting wall of each digging member is provided with` asubstantially V'shaped eX- tension having leg portions SSS and I'Q. The leg portions HG are elongated and include projections ||2 that are bent toward the outer end portions of the digging member and'xed between the sidewalls |42- and. |04."

The sidewalls 1445er allo the digging members are connected and reinforced by a gusset plate ||4. This gusset `plate is spaced parallel to the side wall |62 and supports a laterally projecting horizontal shaft lie and a ring ||8 concentric with the shaft i6. rThe ring I8 enters an outer ring member |28 iiXed to one of the side members 66 (see Figure 6) and a ball bearing,T assembly |22 is mounted between the ring i8 and the ring member |20.v

The shaft H5 Ysupports gears |24 and |23 as shown best in Figures 3 and e of the drawings. The gear |24 is connected to a gear |28 fixed on the shaft 62 by a sprocket chain |39 so that the scoop |04 will be rotated upon rotation of the shafts 82 and 42.

The side walls |62 of the digging members ar formed Y'with adischarge opening from the edge of which there extends a ring |32 that enters a ring member |34 mounted on one of the side members t6. A ball bearing assembly (similar to 122) is received between the ring |32 and ring member |34 `and'will'tend to permit unrestricted rotation of the scoop llrelative to the sidel members.

Fixed to the outer erick; of the sidel walls,-i$2 and '|84'. also the outer ends of the' connecting walls |65, are channel-shapeddigging elements |36, the webs of which are provided withsharp'- enededg'es |331'V The channel-shaped digging elements` are quickly Yand readily removed from theudigging .membersfor repair, or replacement.

Av hopper |4 isy journaled withinthe ring member |34 and is movable with the side members The hopper |44- includes a downwardly curveddischarge chute orspout |42. The. hopper |-44-is so arranged'as tol receive material within the digging .members as the latter rotate.

Thertractor frame supports a conveyor framework |44 including a Ipair of elongated spaced parallel sidefrails. lfi-betweenwhich. there is journalecla plurality of spaced parallel rollers |48.n Anendless elevator conveyor it is 4trained about the rollers |48.Y The side rails |45 are vertically inclined and their central portionsA are disposedy beneath the platform 2B.

The :pivot pin 3| is also Ya driven shaft operatively connected to the power'plant of thetractor and supports a universal connection |52 that isconneoted to a drive shaft |54. The drive shaft |54 is connected to the uppermost of the rollers |48, by a gearbox |53, so that as the pin 3| is rotated, the conveyor |50 will move in a clockwisezdirection as shown in Figure 1. Tensioning rollers |54:` are mounted on the side: rails |45 and prevent the lower ight of the elevator conveyor from sagging.

Means is provided for delivering material discharged 'from the hopper spout |42 to the lower end of' vthe elevator conveyor. This means oonsists of Ya delivery conveyor composed of `upper and lower slidably connected frameworks 53 and |68( The upper framework includes a pair ofv side rails |62 at the rear ends of which there is `mounted depending brackets or arms |4 that supportupper and lower rollers ht and It. The lower framework. i5@ is also constructed to include a pair of side rails il@ to the forward end of which there is mounted'upstanding brackets or arms |12 that support upper and lower. rollers |14 'and l'i. rThe upper rollers |56 ride upon the. upper edges orV the side rails H5 and the lower rollers |68 .ride against the lower edges of the side' rails |76. Furthermore, the upper rollers |14 ride upon the upper edges of the side rails 5 |62 and the lower rollers |16 ride against the lower edges of the side rails |62. Y

Upper rollers |18 are journaled on the side rails |62 and receive an endless conveyor or belt |80, and lower rollers |82 are journaled on vthe lower rails |10 and receive an endless conveyor or belt |84. Both of the belts |80 and |84 rotate in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure l so that material discharged from the hopper spout |42 will pass onto the conveyor |80, then from the conveyor |80 onto the conveyor |84.

The rearmost of the lower rollers |82 is connected, through a gear box |86, to a universal joint |88 which, in turn, is connected to a driven telescoped shaft |90 that is operatively applied to the universal joint |52.

The rearmost of the upper rollers |18 is connected through the medium of a drive |95 to a shaft |92 supporting a sprocket |94. `A sprocket chain |96 is trained about the sprocket |94 and the sprocket |26 so that as the shafts 42, 62 and ||6 rotate, the shaft |92 will 'also rotate to drive the rearmost of the upper rollers |18 and to thereby cause the belt |80 to move toward the rear end of the lower conveyor framework |60.

The framework |60 is supported on and swivelled to the forward end portion of the elevator framework as shown best in Figures 1 and 10 of the drawings. This swivel connection consists of back-to-back upper and lower U-shaped members |98 and 200. The leg portions of the lower member 200 support the forwardmost roller |40 of the elevator conveyor and the'leg portions of the upper member |98 support-the rearmost of the rollers |82 of the framework |60. The web portions of the upper and lower members |98 and 200 are pivoted together as at 202.

The framework |60 can swing about the pivot 202 and since the supporting shaft for the rearmost of the rollers 82 is journaled on the leg portions of the member |98, the framework .|60 can also swingvertically about the member |98.

The forward end portion of the framework |58 is swivelled to one of the side members 66 as shown best in Figure 4. The mounting whereby the framework |58 is secured to or supported on the said one of the side members consists of a substantially L-shaped bracket 204, `the horizontal leg portion of which is pivoted, as at 206,- to the web portion of a U-shaped member 208. The leg portions of the U-shaped member 208 journally support a shaft on which the Aforwardmost of the rollers |18 is journaled and on which the forward ends of the side rails |62 are journaled. I

The manner in which the frameworks |58 v,and

I 60 are connected together, and to the side member 66 and to the member |98 will permit 'the frameworks to move with the side members`66 with a portion of the framework |58 always beneath the hopper spout |42. This operation is illustrated best by the schematic showings in Figures 13, 14 and 15.

Mounted on the platform and operatively connected to the power plant, in a manner usual for shovels or truck loaders, is a series of hand levers 300, 302, and 304 and foot pedals 306. The lever 300 controls the raising and lowering of the boom 46; the lever 302 controls the move ment of the dipper stick or arms 14, 18; the lever 304 controls the drive mechanism for the bucket and the pedals 306 control the rotation of the platform 28 about the base 22.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a truck loader including a rotatable platform, a boom pivoted on the platform, a bucket support mounted on the boom, an elevator conveyor, and a bucket on said support, means for receiving material dug by said bucket comprising upper and lower slidably connected conveyor frameworks, means swivelling the upper framework to the support adjacent the bucket, ,and means swivelling the lower conveyor to the elevator conveyor.

2a In a truck loader including a rotatable platform, a vertically swingable boom pivoted on the platform, a vertically swingable support pivoted to the boom, adjusting means between the support and the boom, and a bucket journaled on said support, an elevator conveyor supported on said loader, and means for delivering material dug by said bucket to the elevator conveyor, said means including upper and lower conveyor frameworks, means slidably securing the upper framework to the lower framework, means swivelling the lower framework to the elevator conveyor, and further means swivelling the upper framework to the support.

3. In a truck loader including a swingable bucket support, a bucket journaled for rotation on the support, and a hopper for receiving material dug by said bucket, an elevator conveyor having a lower end portion, and means for receiving material discharged from the hopper and conducting the material to the elevator conveyor, said means including an upper conveyor and a lower conveyor, means slidably securing said upper and lower conveyors together, means swivelling the upper conveyor to the support and retaining a portion of the upper conveyor beneath the hopper, and means swivelling the lower conveyor to the lower end portion of the elevator conveyor.

4. A digging machine comprising a tractor including a frame, a platform mounted for rotation on the frame, a boom pivoted at one end to the platform for vertical swinging movement, a frame member supported on the platform, a pulley on said frame member, another pulley on the outer end of said boom, a cable attached at one end to said frame member and trained about said pulleys, a power operated cable drum ori the frame and connected to the other end of said cable for selectively raising and loweringthe boom, a bucket support pivoted to the outer end of said boom and depending from the boom, an adjustable connection between said support and said boom, means on said platform and connected to said adjustable connection for actuating the latter to selectively move the support toward and away from said boom, a bucket rotatably supported by said support, a power driven shaft on said platform, means operatively connecting said power driven shaft to said bucket for rotating the bucket, a dispenser carried by said support for receiving material from said bucket, and conveyor means for material leaving the dispenser including a carrier underlyingfsaid dispenser.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said adjustable connection includes a pair of arms pivoted to said support, a transverse shaft rotatably supported on said boom and disposed transversely of said boom, a pair of yokes rotatably mounted on said transverse shaft and slidably receiving said arms, said arms having lower toothed edges'and'gears on said transversefshaft meshing with said toothed edgesr,v

6. Av digging machine comprisinga tractor including 'a frame, la: platform' mounted for rotation onthe frame, a boom pivoted at one end to the platform for vertical swinging movement, a frame member supportedon the plat-form,- a pulley'on'said frame member, another pulley on the outer .end of said boom, a-cable attached at one end to said frame member and trained about said pulleys, a power operated cable drum on Vthe frame and connected to the othervend of said boom; for selectively raising land lowering the boom,;axbucket `support pivoted tothe-outer end offsaid .boom and depending from the'boompan adjustable connection between said support Vand said boom, means on .said platform-andconnected to said adjustable .connection for actuatingthe latter toselectively move thesupport toward1 and away from said boom, a bucket rotatably supported by said support, a vpower driven shaft on'said platform, means operatively con.- necting said power driven shaft to-said bucket for rotating the bucket, a hopper` projecting-laterally fromvone side of said support, said bucket including an opening in communication with said hopper and means for directingmaterial in the bucket .through said opening: and into the hop.- per, and conveyor means for material leaving the hopperk and-.including a'carrier underlying-the hopper. Y

7. In a .digging machine including a frame, a platform mounted on .the frame for rotation, a vertically swingableboom mounted on the platform, and means on the platform and operatively t connected to the boom for selectively `raising and loweringthe boom; a bucket support comprising a pair of. elongated vertically disposed side members having upper reducedends', means pivotally securingy the upper .ends ofy said Yside members to the boom, a bucket supported for rotation betweenthe lower ends of. said side members and having a` discharge opening, one of said side members having an opening concentric with the discharge opening in said-bucket, a ring projecting from the bucket about the opening in the bucket. :and through the opening in said one of said sidemembers, a hopper having a portion rotatably Vmounted in said ring, .means supported on the platform and operativelyconnected to said bucket for. rotating the bucket, and means extending from the hopper to the, frame for conveying material leaving the hopper to a discharge point.

8. In a digging machine including a frame, a platform mounted on the frame for rotation, a vertically swingable boom mounted on the platform, and-means on the platform and operatively connected to the bocmffor selectively raising and lowering the boom; a bucket support comprising a pair of elongated vertically disposed side members having upper reduced ends', means pivotally securing the upper ends of said side members to the boom, a bucket supported for rotation between the lower ends of said side members and having a discharge opening, one of said side members having an opening concentric withlthe discharge opening in said bucket, a ring projecting fromv the bucket about the opening in the bucketv and through the opening in said one of said side members, a hopper having a portion rotatably mounted in said ring, said means pivotally securing the upper ends of said side `members to said boo-m comprising a horizontal shaft, means mounted on the platformA and connected to said shaft for rotating "the shaft, a drive con'- nection between said'shaft and-said-bucket, and means between the bucket support andthe frame for conveying material from'the hopper to .radischarge point.

9. The combination o-f claim anda rack bar pivoted to said bucket support and extending transversely across the boom,` lmeans mounted on the boom and engaging the rackbar to slide the rack bar and adjust the bucket support'relative toY the boom, and'means on the 'platform and operatively connected to said rack -bar engaging and sliding means` for actuating.: the latter.Y

10. A digging machnexcomprising a framea horizontally rotatable platform 'mountedf on the frame, a rigid boom pivotedrat one. end tothe platform for vertical swinging movement, a bucket support pivoted to and depending Y`from sai-:l boom and supported solely'by said boom, .a power drivenv bucket rotatably mounted. on.; the support, means adjustably connecting the-support to the boom, means mounted ont the ,platform and connected .to the boomffor selectively raising and lowering the boomVapoWer driven conveyor extending between. the boom zand `the frame, a hopper on the support overlying? the conveyor and adapted to receive material from the bucket, 'and an elevator conveyor: supported on the machine and having anendidisposed below one end of the power driven, conveyor,l said power driven conveyor including upper and lower conveyor frames slidably connected together, means swiveling the upper conveyor Vframe to the support, and additional means swivelingt the lower conveyor frame to the elevator .conveyor to permit the upper conveyorI framevto always underlie the hopper throughout raising andlowering of the boom and adjustment ofthe support relative to the boom.

ll. In a digging machine including Van elevator conveyor, a vertically swingable boom,a lbucket support, a horizontal power drivenshaft securing said bucket support to the boomVv and con-V stituting a pivot for the support, a bucket, ro'- tatably supported by said support ,and` operatively connected to the shaft for. rotation of the bucket with the shaft, a hopper on saidsupport for receiving material from the bucket, an up per conveyor frame swiveled to the support and underlying the hopper, said upper conveyor `frame including an endless carrier operatively connected tothe bucket for rotation therewith, and a lower conveyor framev slidably securedlto said upper conveyor frame and having a swivel at one end attached to the elevator conveyor.

12. An earth digger comprising a frame,` aplatform rotatably mounted on said frame, averti'- cally swingable rigid boom attached tothe platform, means mounted on the platform and opera'- tively connected to the outer end of the boomffor selectively raising and lowering the boom; ya bucket support pivoted to and hanging fromthe outer end of said boom, a bucket'rotatablysupported by the lower end of said supporta hopper carried by the support and positioned at one side of the bucket for receiving materiall from the bucket, a power driven elevator mounted on the frame, upper and lowerl slidably connected conveyor members, means swiveling the upper conveyor member to the support beneath the hopper, means swiveling the lower conveyor member to the frame, said lower conveyor'member including an inner end portion overlying Ythe lower end of the elevator,V any endless belt carriedbyfeach 9 conveyor member, means operatively connecting the elevator to the belt of the lower conveyor member, means mounted on the platform and connected to the bucket for rotating the bucket, a drive connection between the bucket and the belt of the upper conveyor member, and an adjustable connection between said support and said boom.

KING W. WALTERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

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